Simple Desoldering Technique

[[http://youtu.be/J0Emv9CJ0eg]] [[http://youtu.be/4HTIJTTsR9U]]

Thi is my simple desoldering technique that I have used for many years now.  If I find a component on an old circuit board and need it for use in my electronic experiments, then I always salvage them instead of buying brand new.  The first step is to identify the part or parts you require from the board (on this board, i am removing a microchip, photo 1), then plug in your soldering iron and switch on.  Photo 2 shows to heat one or two pins at a time of the chip.  When the solder has melted, quickly hit the circuit board on a hard surface, solder face down.  The molten solder from the heated pin or pins will drop off and solidify almost instantly on the table.  Continue to do this with every pin of the component.  The next step is to get a flat tool such, as a flat blade screwdriver or pen knife blade (Photo 3) to carefully prise the component from the board. Insert the tool under one side first, then under the other side.  This is to try and lift the chip out of the board vertically so not the bend any pins.  If the chip is hard to lift at any point, check that the solder has been removed completely, if not repeat step 2 on the offending pins.  Photos 4 and 5 show the component successfully removed and ready to be used on my breadboard.  I have embedded two youtube videos (if its worked correctly) to help show my technique.